Any inflatable downwind sup boards available? Imagining a Kalama Barracuda type but inflatable for easy travelling. Probably would be lighter and offer better swing weight too.

I'm not sure it would be much lighter. However, some weight isn't too bad when it's nuking with strong sidewinds. Sometimes the wind will get under the nose of the board and redirect your line.

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foilthegreats said..
Any inflatable downwind sup boards available? Imagining a Kalama Barracuda type but inflatable for easy travelling. Probably would be lighter and offer better swing weight too.

Stiffness is the biggest issue. Had some infltable foil sups made few years ago, and most of all remember the energy which was lost in the takeoff.

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danish said..

foilthegreats said..
Any inflatable downwind sup boards available? Imagining a Kalama Barracuda type but inflatable for easy travelling. Probably would be lighter and offer better swing weight too.

Stiffness is the biggest issue. Had some infltable foil sups made few years ago, and most of all remember the energy which was lost in the takeoff.

I believe the technology has gotten much better over the last few years. I tried to find but remember a major brand launching an inflatable Wingfoil board with the track and stance area being a solid piece for stiffness sake.

Please no, can we keep at least the dw foil pure and far away from inflatable non sense. Sorry but I hate inflatable.

Here I started a thread awhile ago on inflatable wing boards , this was pretty well all of them which you could use for downwind . Technology now they are stiff but as mentioned above a lot are a 50% stiff fixed plate and they really don't pack down that well and pretty heavy . www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Wing-Foiling/Wind-Wings/Inflatable-Wing-Boards

Touchdowns are a real issue for inflatable foil boards, they really grab and throw you off. Maybe when they have very good manufacturing control over nose rocker and rail shape it might be possible to shape an inflatable version of a hard board , but I don't think we are there yet. Stopping the front half of the board bending off under front foot load ( and changing the rocker line) is another issue

I've been using a 4'8 80L Gong Hipe Pro for the last week winging on Swiss lakes. It's got the carbon plate. Hard to exactly compare to my 70L Starboard Carbon Wingboard because I'm on fresh water but gee there isn't much in it. This is a fraction less than 5kg and super stiff, touchdowns are fine and it seems to get up to speed in a very similar fashion to a hard board. Cheap and carefree chucking in the car etc. Cost me less than 700 euro delivered to my mate in Switzerland, for easy travel it's almost a no brainer. Can imagine a longer downwind style board wouldn't be nearly as good as a hard board though.

It's here and you can flat water paddle it up: www.instagram.com/reel/Cstw_5JoA9Y/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

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frenchfoiler said..
Please no, can we keep at least the dw foil pure and far away from inflatable non sense. Sorry but I hate inflatable.

Absolutely not. Why do you care about the construction of other people's boards? Nobody is forcing you to ride them. The only gatekeeping will be from the sport itself, not the cost of entry to purchase an overpriced eggshell board. I can't wait to kook out on an inflatable DW board.

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JonathanC said..
I've been using a 4'8 80L Gong Hipe Pro for the last week winging on Swiss lakes. It's got the carbon plate. Hard to exactly compare to my 70L Starboard Carbon Wingboard because I'm on fresh water but gee there isn't much in it. This is a fraction less than 5kg and super stiff, touchdowns are fine and it seems to get up to speed in a very similar fashion to a hard board. Cheap and carefree chucking in the car etc. Cost me less than 700 euro delivered to my mate in Switzerland, for easy travel it's almost a no brainer. Can imagine a longer downwind style board wouldn't be nearly as good as a hard board though.

??
Gong Hipe Pro is 6.4kg +-5% board only according to Gong.

If yours is under 5kg you have a prodigy...

Not nitpicking, weight is a big con for inflatables vs rigids.

Hmm actually funny you bring that up, used it in Tarifa a few months ago and kinda hated it when it was even a tiny bit underpowered, sold it and vowed to never get another inflatable wing board . It did feel very light though

Gong has announced one: The Hipe Cruzader

He can take off on the flat at 102kg on it:

www.instagram.com/p/Cstw_5JoA9Y/

I believe a inflatable CAN be lighter than a hard board where It counts especially when it comes to long foil boards.

Liter to liter my 5" thick, 5'11",single stitch,130 liter Hipe First is about 15lbs (6.8kgs). No straps light duty "beginner board". So that's light for 130 liter board. But for a 5'11" board it may only be average.
Thing is, probably 70% of that weight is in the base plate area. If so, the swing weight could be much lighter than a equal weight hard board. So if you stretch the board out, and the base plate is the same, the swing weight could be a lot less.

Obviously the shape of a hard board can somewhat equalize this difference like the kamala's low volume nose...

I still don't think id want a inflatable for real downwinding because id want the best touchdown recovery possible and ZERO chance of board deflation. But for lightwind winging or "flat water start" it could be better that a hard board.

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colas said..
He can take off on the flat at 102kg on it:

www.instagram.com/p/Cstw_5JoA9Y/

I am sure this is on that MASSIVE wingspan foil though.

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Hdip said..
I am sure this is on that MASSIVE wingspan foil though.

Yes, you can see it on the vids: 186cm, as wide as he is tall :-)

Gong, they indicate their weight...but in small print it's excluding the deck pad. Just to let you know. Hope it's stiff as he is stiff. :)

Haven't seen any specs posted for this one yet, it'll be interesting to see.

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Grantmac said..
Haven't seen any specs posted for this one yet, it'll be interesting to see.

About a week ago all the specs for the Gong Hipe Cruzader were listed, plenty of different lengths and widths. You could also pre-order. But it has all been removed now, maybe manufacturing issues?

Have been looking at the gong website (and cruzaders) both just before the video appeared and in the days after that. Have never seen details or even announcement on their website. Sure you're not mistaken with the regular Cruzaders?
The rigid's should be back in stock mid-july.

This one is looking pretty good to me. Shipping a little more than their other inflatables but still very reasonable all things considered.

First to market with the inflatable DW should be a big plus for them. I'll bet they will be sold out soon.

I'm a fan of the fast mounting system and it appears it's much longer than before. I wonder what the weight is.

www.gong-galaxy.com/produit/gong-foil-board-hipe-cruzader-strapless/

Blog post about the board: www.gong-galaxy.com/en/magazine/news-en/the-cruzader-in-a-backpack/

On the rigidity, note that the carbon plate is longer.

And the videos of Patrice pumping it on the flat with his 105kg does not show a lot of flex...
Both his feet are on the carbon plate.



You may see a tiny bit of flex in the front, out of the carbon plate span when the nose touches the water, but it should not significantly impact performance

www.instagram.com/p/Cstw_5JoA9Y/
www.instagram.com/patrice_guenole/

Note: Gong pre-announces (i.e. teases) things first on Instagram and Facebook, before mentioning it on the forum and then the web site.
Think of Instagram and FB as alpha test, forum beta test and website release :-)

Decided to pre-order one. Train all summer and then decide about the next step (going for rigid & slightly smaller -or- stick with it because it works just fine for this OK-amateur).

Really hoping V2 comes with footstraps.

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Grantmac said..
Really hoping V2 comes with footstraps.

Each to their own but I know I would absolutely hate to be stuck in foot straps when down winding. There is no way I would take a punt on one without having the option to try first however they would be fantastic for travel if they worked ok.

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Grantmac said..
Really hoping V2 comes with footstraps.

Each to their own but I know I would absolutely hate to be stuck in foot straps when down winding. There is no way I would take a punt on one without having the option to try first however they would be fantastic for travel if they worked ok.

I'm definitely getting one , I think this is the answer to one travel board that does all , Wing , DW Sup or prone , Surf Sup. My only issue is that fat nose , just wish there more nose rocker in the last 300mm on the under section only . I can see that pushing water in the first couple of strokes IMHO , regardless this is a take my money moment for me. Props to Patrice for always being so innovative.

My order is in!
If you are thinking about it, don't delay - this first run is selling fast and will be sold out in a couple days
Stoked!

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colas www.instagram.com/p/Cstw_5JoA9Y/
www.instagram.com/patrice_guenole/

Wow that is a big foil

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hilly said..

Wow that is a big foil

Indeed!

www.instagram.com/p/CpKdPf8IpYm/




Patrice is 186cm tall ( = 6'1"), and the widest Gong foil wing is ... 186cm ... I guess it was deliberate :-)